Adam Dachis

When you want a raise, you do yourself a disservice if you don't step into the shoes of your boss. While you may feel you deserve the money, or really need it, you don't want your boss to question your worth if they won't come up with a positive answer.

Alison Green, writing for US News, suggests you answer the following questions your boss will likely have when you propose a raise:

Am I worried about losing this person?

Does this person deserve the salary she or he is asking for?

Do I have the money to say yes to this request?

What would this mean for other people's salaries?

What's likely to happen if I say no?

Positive answers to those questions put you in a good position to ask. Conversely, negative answers do not. In fact, you don't want your boss to question whether or not they care if they lose you and decide that they don't. If you can't find positive answers to most of these questions, you might want to try and improve your situation and/or wait until your company's financial situation makes a pay raise a greater possibility.